The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. The FMLA is intended "to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families." FMLA sets national standards for employers when providing leave for such purposes.

FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to attend to the serious health condition of the employee, parent, spouse, or child, or for pregnancy or care of a newborn child, or for adoption or foster care of a child.

• SISD Family Medical Leave Policy

• SISD FMLA Process Flow Chart

• SISD FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

• US Department of Labor FMLA Frequently Asked Questions

Employee FMLA Forms

• Saginaw ISD FMLA Request Form

• Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee's Serious Health Condition (WH-380-E)

• Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member's Serious Health Condition (WH-380-F)

Saginaw ISD employees may be entitled to an FMLA leave of absence, but note that an FMLA leave of absence runs at the same time as other paid or unpaid leaves of absence. An FMLA leave of absence is not an extension of an employee's paid time off.

In order to request an FMLA leave of absence, the employee will request the leave by completing the Saginaw ISD Family and Medical Leave Request form. In addition, the employee is required to provide medical documentation from their doctor certifying the need for the leave by downloading one of the forms: 1) Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee's Serious Health Condition (WH-380-E) or 2) Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member's Serious Health Condition (WH-380-F). The medical certification form must be returned to the Saginaw ISD HR Department within fifteen (15) days from the notice of leave. This form can be faxed to (989) 249-8756.

Once HR receives the employee request for FMLA leave, it will send to the employee via email: 1) Department of Labor Notice of Eligibility and Rights & Responsibilities (WH-381); 2) an additional blank copy of the Certification of Health Care Provider described above, and 3) other pertinent information. This communication is not an approval of the leave.

After HR receives the Certification of Health Care Provider form, it will send the employee via email an FMLA Approval or FMLA Denial letter along with the Department of Labor FMLA Designation Form (WH-382). If the leave is approved, HR will enter into Skyward all paid and unpaid time off. The employee is still responsible to notify his or her supervisor of absences through the normal protocol for reporting absences (willsub, call, text, etc.).